Talking picture machine



y L. J. ANDRES 2,118,999

TALKING PICTURE MACHINE Filed March 21, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet l s g INVENTOR. [Zaydfywafi A TTORN E Y.

Ma 31,1938. N RE 2,118,999

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TALKING PICTURE MACHINE Filed March 21, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 f Y [Zgyd ATTORNEY.

May 31, 1938. L, ANDRE 2,118,999

TALKING PICTURE MACHINE Filed March 21, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 fakmor; BY 176,5

May 31, 1938. 7 J. ANDRES 2,118,999

TALKING PICTURE MACHINE Filed March 21, 1934 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 45 L i v if w1,1,11/1,llllrlallaalullumI ATTORNEY.

lloyi/gz rw y 1938. L. J. ANDRES 2,118,999

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Filed March 21, 1 934 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 U a w 4 w fiw HHMW L 7% Z 7% Patented May 31, 1938 I 2,118,999

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE TALKING PICTURE MACHINE Lloyd J. Andres, Grand Rapids, Mich assignor to Automatic Instrument Company, a corporation of Michigan I Application March 21, 1934, Serial No. 716,595

Claims. (01. 88-17) This invention relates to improvements in mothe sound drive shaft so that the sound is not tion picture machine, and more particularly to distorted. sound picture projectors. Further objects and advantages will become 'Objects of the invention are to provide a portapparent in the following description, taken with 5 able sound-projector for handling full size film, reference to the accompanying drawings, in 5 which can be readily assembled and disassembled which an illustrative embodiment of this invenfor transportation from place to place; to protion is shown incorporated in a sound and pic vide such a machine which is simple in constructure projector, although, obviously, many feation so that it can be manufactured at a low tures of the invention may be used in other types '10 cost; and to provide a machine which is simple and kinds of motion picture machines.

' and easy to operate with perfect safety. Fig. 1 .is an elevation of the projector, looking Another object is to provide means for autofrom the rear side of the machine, that is, the matically stopping the machine when the film side away from the operator. breaksor runs out. Further objects are to pro- Fig. 2 is a detail section of the take-off reel vide a machine which can be threaded very mounting and drive, and is taken on the line 2-2 15 quickly and easily without poking the film of Fig. 1. throughv various restricted passages, and to pro- Fig. 3 is an elevation of the projector, looking vide a roller film gate of a'construction which can from the operators, or front, side of the mabeopened wide with one motion, and which is then chine, with cover removed, parts broken away, i

v30 automatically held in open position a distance and portions of the film reel containers shown from the roller or surface with which it cooperin section.

ates so that-the film track is unobstructed for Fig. 4 is a section looking from the front of the threading, inspection, and cleaning. projector, and is taken substantially on the ir- Further objects are to provide a gate for the regular line 4-4 of Fig. 3, to show the film drivprojector aperture plate which will guide the film ing mechanism. 25

smoothly with little friction, and hold it perfectly Fig. 5 is a section showing the manner of flat in close contact so that the focusing is sharp mounting the sprocket and roller gates, and is over all of the picture; also the gate of this intaken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3. vention does not confine the film too closely, and Fig, 6 isa view of the rear side of the proleaves space on either side of the film for ventijector, with the cover plate removed and theprilation. It opens. wide for cleaning off the dirt mary or sound drive shaft shown in section on which collects on the guiding surfaces, locks open th line 6- 6 of Fig. 7. au m ly. d closes accurately w h w y Fig. '7 is a vertical section showing the details the Sam P e n t film of the mounting of the sound drive shaft.

Another object is to provide an accurate and Fi 8 1 a cti vi w f th felt, ib 35 readily adjustable, micromatic, elf l kin m an tion filter disc which is shown in section in Fig. 'i.

for framing or registering the film with the aper- Fig 9 is a, section illustrating the mounting ture. of the friction rollers which tension the film as it Another object is to obtain a smooth, non-osi pulled over th sound aperture plate. This cillating drive for moving the sound track of the i i t k on th lin 9-4 of Fig, 3. 40 fi p the light ribbon- In a Projector Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Fig.

meted in accmdanqe this invention the 4, showing the film guiding and actuating mechdriving motor is belted directly to the sound anismof the picture projector mechamsm take-off drive shaft, and then this shaft is con- Fig 11 is a similar. i showing the aperture nected through trains of gears to the intermitgate open tent driveand other mechanism. The gears,

especially if they become worn through use, set 1 3. 65: fgz gggi g gg p up vibrations in the meshing of the teeth, and 0 ng g i w f fr met the load on the intermittent is applied for only "3 v e o a one-fourth of each revolution, which of course bracket 50 tends to cause violent oscillations in the .rotag. 13a is a cross section on line l3alla of tion of the shafts, even where fly wheels are incorporated in the driving train. Accordingly, I, Fig. 14 is a detail view looking down at the provide means for filtering out the vibrations roller gate, as indicated by the arrow ll of Fig. 3. and preventing them from affecting rotation of Fig. 15 is a detail plan section of the intermit The aperture plate 31 is formed of sheet metal with lateral flanges 8| and 82, and having a light aperture 83. The plate 31 is fixedly mounted on a base plate 8a, fixed to the wall 8,'by screws 84, which extend through the base flange 8|, and thread into the base plate; ject beyond the ends of the plate for supporting a pair of flanged rollers 85, at the upper end, and a pair of plain rollers 88 at the lower end.

A small shaft 81 is threaded into the fiange 8|, which extends loosely through the rollers 85, and a cap 88 is threaded onto the out end of the shaft, which'is supported in the outer flange 82, and provides an abutment for positioning the adjacent flanged roller. A spring 88 is provided between the other roller and the flange 8| to press the roller together and against the inner end of the cap 88.

Thus by adjusting the cap on the threaded end of the shaft 81, these rollers may be positioned laterally to guide the film in registration with the sides of the light aperture-83. For the sake of convenience in manufacture, the mounting of the lower rollers is the same, although no lateral adjustment is required.

For avoiding frictional heating and scraping the surface of the film, a shallow relief groove 88 is cut in the surface of the plate 31, underneath the -mid portion of the film, and the rollers 85 and 88 are substantially fiush with the guiding surfaces 88 which are under the margins of the film.

The margins of the film strip are pressed lightly against the guiding surfaces of the plate by two pairs of elongated guide shoes 8| and 82; one of the aperture 83,-

pair, 8|, being at either side and the otherpair, 82, being extended out over the rollers 85, as shown in Fig. 10. The shoes are loosely mounted in a gate frame comprising a slotted and apertured plate 83 which is pivoted on the ends of lever members 84 and 85. The lever members are of sheet metal formed to provide integrally connected arms, and are respectively mounted on posts 88 and 81, which are fixedly mounted in the base plate 8a, in parallel relation with the light aperture plate 31.

, Upturned hook portions 88 are provided on the shoes which project through and hook over the back surface of the gate plate 83; and the shoes are pressed into contact with the margins of the film by spring fingers 88, which are anchored to the back surface of the plate 83.

The closing movement of the gate is limited by a post I88, which positions the plate 83 in spaced parallel relation with the film, and accordingly the film is only contacted at the sides and there is space for ventilation on both faces of the film.

A spring I8I, coiled around the post 88, tends to rotate the lever 84 into closing position; but when the gate is thrown up, it is locked in open position by the lever 85, which is longer than the upper lever 84; and a headed post I83 is fixedly mounted on the web of the lever 85. The levers 84 and 85 and the plate 83 move into angular relation, as shown in Fig. 11, and the lower edge of the plate 83 strikes the head of the post I82, so that said parts are locked'against the action of the spring I8I,

Proceeding to the intermittent drive mechanism, particularly illustrated in Figs. 10, i5, and 16, a circular aperture I85, having a shoulder I88, is provided in the housing'wall 8 for receiving a cylindrical Geneva mechanism casing I81, which has a cover member I88 abutting against said shoulder. The cover is fixedly secured to the and the flanges procasing by screws I88, and the casing is clamped in position by fillister head screws II8 which thread into the portion of the wall 8 surrounding the casing, and grip the cover.

Extending inwardly from the bottom I I I of the cup I81 is an integral arm II2 which supports an outboard bearing II3, which is in alignment with a bearing 4 formed in and at one side of the center of the bottom wall III; and the Geneva cam shaft 81 is rotatably mounted in the bearings with the drive pinion 88 pinned thereto in the space between the bearings. On the projecting end of the shaft 81 is fixedly mounted a small fiy wheel II8; and on the portion of the shaft which projects into the oil chamber II1, formed in the casing, is pinned a Geneva cam I I8 and fiange I|8,to which a drive pin I28 is fixed.

The cam and pin engage and intermittently rotate and lock a Geneva wheel I2I, which has a shaft I22 projecting through and rotatably supported in a housing member I23 which is fixedly secured in a hub I24 provided eccentrically in the cover member I88.

By this construction the Geneva wheel may be adjusted into close relation with the cam II8 to give the proper clearance and to compensate for wear, the holes I25 in the cover, for the screws I88, being suitably elongated to permit shifting the cover in making the adjustment.

Also the casing I81 may be rotatably adjusted, by loosening the screws II8, to closely mesh the pinion 88 with the gear 85.

The film sprocket wheels 38 are fixedly mounted on the shaft I22, and the outer end of the shaft is supported in a bearing I28, carried by an arm I21, which is integral with the bearing hous ing I23.

For adjustably framing the pictures on the film to register with the projector aperture 83 in the plate 31, I provide a on a lever arm I3I, ring I32, rotatably mounted on the exterior of the hub I 24. The ring I32 has a gear segment I33, formed thereon, which meshes in a worm I34, rotatably mounted in the side wall of the projector housing, as shown in Fig. 3; and a knurled thumb wheel I35 is provided on the outside of the projector housing for rotating the worm I34 and causing the roller to draw a loop I38 in the film between the intermittent wheels 38 and the guide roller 88 on the lower end of the aperture plate. Obviously in this manner the film may quickly and accurately be framed. I

The roller also serves to wrap the film around the wheels 38, and the film is held in contact with a portion of the circumference of the wheels by a quick, wide opening, and self locking gate I38,

roller I38, which is carried shown in midsection in Fig. 18, in plan in Fig. 14,

I I38 formed to provide a pair of integrally connected arms I48, which are pivotally mounted on a post I4I, disposed a short distance from the film.

The post extends through a cam I42 and threads into a'boss I43 formed in the Wall 8, as shown in Fig. 5; and a check nut I44 is threaded on the post for adjustably clamping the cam in position against the end of the boss, and locking the post as well. The outer end of the post has a knurled and slotted head, and the frame I38 is confined between the head of the post and the lock nut.

In the outer ends-of the arms I48, a grooved shaft I45is secured by means of a knurled nut which is integral with the E46, see Fig. 14, threaded on the end of the shaft, and on the shaft is loosely supported a cradle like pressure member frame comprising spaced arcuate shoe plates I47 connected by two rods I48. The apertures I49 for the shaft I in the plates are enlarged to permit transverse movement of the plates on the shaft, and a of bowed springs I50 are provided which bend around in the grooves I5I, of the shaft,and hook under the rods M8 at their ends.

The movement of the frame towards the sprocket wheels is limited by a post I52, threaded into the wall 6, and an adjusting screw 553 is threaded through a projection 954 of the frame for contacting with the post. In closed position the frame is urged into contact with the stop post M2 by a leaf spring member I which is anchored to the projection I54 and bears against a point H6 at the end of the circular portion it'll! of the cam. Thus the pressure of the shoes, which are spaced so that they bear against the margins of the film at the outer sides of the teeth on the sprocket wheels, is determined entirely by the fiexure of the bow springs .lliill, which can be regulated as desired by the screw I53. Accordingly the pressure on the film may be very light to prevent the film from jumping oif from the sprocket teeth, and the parts resting on the film are of low inertia so that there is little danger of tearing the film when there is a tendency for it to jump away from the wheels.

The film is prevented from sticking on the sprocket teeth by a stripper blade I58, which is mounted on the arm i2? to project between the wheels. When the gate is swung away from the film to open, the spring I55 moves around into contact with the circular portion l5? of the cam 642. Therefore, the spring becomes ineffective for exerting torque on the frame. The frame will remain wherever it is left in the open position, and may be closed by pressing it lightly to move the spring over the point of the cam.

The film is held in contact with the upper portion of the circumference of the hold-back sprockets 39 by a gate I60, rotatably mounted on a post lIiI, threaded into the wall 6; and the construction and arrangement thereof is the same as for the gate I38, except that two spaced rollers I62 are provided for pressing the film against the wheels, and no closing stop is required. These sprocket wheels 39 maintain a varying loop I63 in film for preventing tension on the film below the intermittent drive gears, which would tend to pull the front edges of the driving apertures in the margins of the film away from the leading faces'of the tooth sprockets.

The friction rollers 4I tension the film evenly over the plate 43 against the pull from the continuously driven wheels; and the resistance of the rollers to the movement of the filmyunder pressure from a spring pressed gate I64, similar to the gate I38, is governed by the construction shown in Fig. 9. The rollers are integrally formed on a sleeve I65 which is rotatably mount ed on the fixed shaft I2. A collar I61 anda lock nut I58 are threaded on the outer end of the shaft, and a spring I69 is provided for pressing the sleeve against the collar I61. The spring IE9 is compressed between the lock nut 49 and a disc "0; and friction discs "I are provided between the ends of the sleeve and the disc and collar so that an even resistance is maintained.

The rollers are provided with flanges I12 for guiding the film, laterally, over the surface of the plate 43 to register the sound track on the film with the aperture I13 in the plate 43.

The sound drive sprockets 44 and the holdback sprockets 46 are each provided with spring pressed single roller gates I14 and H5, rotatably mounted,respectively, on posts H6 and I'll fixedly mounted in the wall 6.

and being pulled out of the housing. Accordingly,

when the tension on the film is lost, through breakage or otherwise, the frame will swingdownward so that a projection I183, provided on one of the arms, strikes and depresses the plunger, which may be arranged to operate such safety mechanism as may be desired,

The picture projector light beam may be provided by a suitable lamp mounted in the lamp housing H, and the beam is projected through the portion of the film exposed by the aperture 83 and into. an optical projector lens tube I84, the beam being periodically interrupted by the shutter '52 in a suitable manner for forming the moving pictures.

Fcr reproducing the sound from the line of markings on the sound track, an optical tube 085, of well known construction, is fixedly mounted on the division wall 6, in alignment with the sound aperture I13.

The light from a lamp M6, mounted on the division wall behind the tube I85, is gathered into a ribbon beam which passed through the portion of the sound track exposed by the aperture I13, and into a photoelectric lamp it", mounted on the wall, which generates the electrical impulses for actuating sound producing apparatus in the usual manner.

As shown in Fig. 6, I provide means for lubrieating the several revolving shafts comprising a reservoir I 88, mounted in the top wall of the housing, which is individually connected to the bearings by pipes I89.

I also provide a safety switch comprising spring contact fingers I90 and I91, mounted on the housing wall, and a sleeve I92 which is slidably mounted on the propeller shaft I3, the sleeve being actuated by fly-weights I93, which are mounted on the shutter 12, so that the connection between the contact fingers is made or broken according to the rotation of the shutter and the general operation of the machine.

I also provide a threading lamp I94, which is mounted on a bracket I95, afiixed to the plate 31.

Manifestly a machine is provided which is very simple to operate, and in which the handling of the film in threading the machineis very simple and. expedient. The framing, of the pictures is accomplished by a very simple, accurate, and easily manipulated mechanism, and the film gates effectively guide the film with light pressure and little danger of breaking or damaging the film.

By filtering out the vibrations of the intermittent and other driving mechanism, these mechanisms may be driven from the sound sprocket.

shaft without causing fluctuations in the sound.

2:? stop mounted on the lower lever so The machine occupies a minimum amount of. space, and can be readily disassembled for transportation.

While I have illustrated and described but one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that many alterations, additions, or omissions may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the claims which I make, as follows:

I claim:

1. In a motion picture machine, a fixedly mounted vertical aperture plate, two posts mounted in spaced parallel relation with the aperture plate, a double lever pivoted on ea'ch post, a gate plate having marginal flanges pivotally connected to the outer ends of the arms of the levers, a stop contacted by the lower lever to position the gate plate when closed in spaced parallel relation with the aperture plate, a spring coiled around-the upper post for rotating the upper lever towards the aperture plate, the lower lever being longer than the upper lever so that levers move out of parallel relation when the gate plate is swung backaway from the film, and a that the gate is self locking in open position.

2. In a motion picture machine, a film gate comprising two pivotally mounted levers, a frame pivotally mounted on the outer ends of the levers, pressure shoes resiliently mounted on the frame for pressing against the film, said levers being disposed one above the other and the lower lever being longer than the upper lever so that the levers move in substsantially parallel relation when the frame is moved into closed position and move into angular relation when the frame is swung up into open position, and a stop carried by the lower lever and engaged by the frame for limiting the opening movement.

3. In a motion picture machine, a fixedly mounted aperture plate, two posts fixedly'mounted in spaced parallel relation with the aperture plate, a lever pivotally mounted on each, a gate frame pivotally connected to the outer ends of the lever so that the gate is supported in close parallel relation with aperture plate, one lever being shorter than the other and having a projection engaged by the adjacent edge of the gate frame so that the gate is self locking in position when swung away from the aperture plate.

4. In a motion picture machine, means for maintaining the film in contact with a guiding surface comprising a frame having upper and lower pivoting levers, a spring in connection with one of the levers tending to press the frame toward the said surface, a stop for limiting the movement of the frame towards the surface, and

spring pressed shoes loosely mounted at both sides of the frame for pressing the film against said surface, the shoes having hooked ends for limiting their movement away from the plate and the springs being each secured at one end to the plate and the other end engaging the intermediate portion of its corresponding shoe.

5. In a motion picture machine, a fixed aperture plate, pivoting levers above and below the aperture of the plate, a frame pivotally connected to the levers to swing close to the aperture plate, a spring in connection with the upper levers to rotate the frame toward the plate when moving in that direction, and the spring rotating the lower end of the frame inwardly in self locking position when the frame is raised and swung away from the film.

' LLOYD J. ANDRES. 

